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A Case Study On Readiness Of Engineers In Agricultural Technology Start-Ups, Katie Marie Mowat

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation explores the perceptions of practicing engineers regarding the skills necessary to be workforce-ready at agricultural technology (ag-tech) start-ups in the Midwestern United States. A qualitative case study methodology is leveraged, combining both interview and job description data. Given their uniqueness, the study divides the ag-tech start-up industry into two subcases: livestock and cropping systems. The Work Readiness Integrated Competence Model (WRICM) is used as the theoretical framework for this study and informs the conceptual framework and analysis processes. The study identified skills that fit into thirteen distinct categories, which are further grouped into four overarching resource groups. Skills …

Gene Editing Approaches To Improving Grain Amino Acid Profiles In Maize And Sorghum, Joseph Preston Hurst

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Maize grain is deficient in lysine. While the opaque2 mutation increases grain lysine, o2 is a transcription factor that regulates a wide network of genes beyond zeins, which leads to pleiotropic and often negative effects. Additionally, the drastic reduction in 19kDa and 22kDa alpha-zeins causes a floury kernel, unsuitable for agricultural use. Sorghum, closely related to maize, has a similar lack of lysine that can be corrected with prolamin alteration and also subject to the same deleterious kernel texture. CRISPR/cas9 gives researchers the ability to directly target genes of interest. In this research, gene editing was used to specifically target …

Developing Custom Fertilizer Strategies Recirculating Hydroponic Systems, Joshua Bryan Tebow

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hydroponic systems recirculate nutrient solution to reduce the amount of water used in leafy green production. However, the rootzone of the nutrient solution is complex and influenced by interacting factors such as plant uptake demand, irrigation water quality, supplied fertilizer salts and nutrient concentrations, environmental conditions, and injection of mineral acids/bases to control solution pH. A common strategy for managing nutrients in commercial production is to select a hydroponic solution formulation (i.e. recipe) to supply and maintain a target pH and electrical conductivity (EC) in the recirculating solution over time by automatic injection of mineral acids/bases and concentrated fertilizer stock …

Effects Of Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms On Microbial Community Dynamics And Plant Growth Responses Of Aeroponically Cultivated Spinach, Veronica Snow

All NMU Master's Theses

Regional food insecurity caused by the inability to use conventional farming techniques year-round in cold climates increases the need for access to quality, locally sourced, and affordable foods year-round. Shifting from a soil-based system to aeroponics can increase yields, as aeroponic systems are not weather-reliant and can operate year-round. Aeroponics, a subgroup of hydroponics, induces growth by misting nutrient-rich solutions onto the plant roots. These systems use space and water more efficiently and rely less on fertilizers and pesticides but are vulnerable to errors in nutrient application, power loss, and rapid pathogen spread. Adding Vermicompost (VCT) and plant growth-promoting microorganisms …

International Rice Outlook: International Rice Baseline Projections 2024–2034, A. Durand-Morat, W. Mulimbi

AAES Research Reports and Research Bulletins

• Global rice consumption is projected to exceed global rice production for most of the coming decade, with stocks playing a crucial role in balancing the global market over the projected period.

• The projected growth in production is almost exclusively due to productivity gains.

• The projected global rice consumption is growing, driven mainly by population growth. However, the average global per capita rice consumption is estimated to increase slowly in the coming decade due to a regain in per capita consumption in Asia, the largest rice-consuming region worldwide.

• The international prices of long-grain and medium-grain rice are …

Quantifying Temperature Effects On Developmental Rate And Plant Quality Of Compact Container-Grown Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum), Morgan Humphrey

Horticulture Undergraduate Honors Theses

Mean daily temperature effects on plant development rates and quality were evaluated for compact container-grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Compact tomato varieties ‘Siam’ and ‘Red Velvet’ were grown in greenhouses at 18 to 26 °C (Experiment 1) and 20 to 30 °C (Experiment 2) under supplemental high-pressure sodium lighting and 16-hour photoperiod. The number of days to first open flower, first ripe fruit, and from flower to ripe fruit were measured and development rates calculated by taking the reciprocal (e.g. 1/days). Temperature effects were predicted by fitting a linear (for first open flower) and a nonlinear exponential function (for …

Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation As A Non-Chemical Management Option Against Fungi And Heterotrophic Bacteria In Organic Sweetpotato Production, Meredith Tucker

All Theses

North Carolina is the largest producer of sweetpotatoes in the United States, with South Carolina increasing farming acreage to 2,501 in 2022 compared to 1,300 in 2017. Growers producing conventional and organic sweetpotatoes are equally challenged with managing fungal pathogens due to fungicide resistance or fungicides being unavailable due to environmental regulations, leading many to shift to growing organic crops. Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is a non-chemical pre-plant management option that uses a carbon amendment, irrigation, and plasticulture to establish an anaerobic environment in soils, killing soil microbes. A greenhouse study was conducted to assess ASD on fungal pathogens and …

Investigation Into Mycorrhizae Associated With Native Venus' Flytrap Root Tissue, Anna Carnaggio

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dionaea muscipula, a plant commonly known as the Venus' flytrap, is found native to the southeast corner of North Carolina and the northeast corner of South Carolina. Several populations of native Venus' flytraps are known to exist in the nutrient-poor peat bog conditions in and around Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve (LOBHP) in Northeastern South Carolina. Anthropogenic pressures in Horry County, specifically surrounding LOBHP, have resulted in a loss of habitat for several native and endangered species. As a result, conservation efforts are focused on relocating native Venus' flytraps into adjacent habitats to ensure survival. This is only a temporary …

Investigate The Use Of Nucleic Acids As Pesticides To Manage Major Pests And Pathogens Of Crops In South Carolina, Prasanna Valavanur Shekar

All Dissertations

The sugarcane aphid (SCA, Melanaphis sorghi), first discovered on grain sorghum in late 2013, has gradually become a major insect pest of sorghum. It inflicts significant damage to the crop year after year, causing millions of dollars in losses throughout the sorghum-producing regions of the United States. Similarly, Armillaria root rot—also referred to as oak root rot—is a major cause of decline in peach (Prunus persica) production in the southeastern United States. This disease is caused by Armillaria mellea and Armillaria tabescens. Current management practices for controlling M. sorghi include the use of synthetic pesticides, resistant varieties, and regular scouting. …

Long-Term Cropping System And Manure Effects On Soil Health Parameters And Associated Soil-Borne Pathogens, Joyce Mutai, Beth Medvecky, Steven J. Vanek, John Ojiem, Peter Bolo, Job Kihara, Steven J. Fonte

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Soil-borne pathogens reduce the performance of key food crops in sub-Saharan Africa. Diversified cropping and nutrient management can enhance soil and plant health, limiting pathogen damage. To examine how management and soil health changes influence soil-borne pathogens, we leveraged an 18-year field trial in western Kenya, evaluating cropping systems typical of smallholder farms. We considered three cropping systems and two organic matter management strategies: continuous maize monocrop (M–M), Tephrosia in rotation with maize (T–M), maize intercropped with soybean (M–S), application or not of farmyard manure, and retention or removal of crop residues. We assessed soil physical and chemical properties and …

Identification And Characterization Of Intermediate Phenotypes To Decipher Genetic Architecture Of Stalk Lodging Resistance In Maize (Zea Mays L.), Bharath Kunduru

All Dissertations

Maize is a key contributor to global food security and incurs severe yield losses due to stalk lodging, the permanent displacement of plants from an upright growth habit due to mechanical damage to the stem (stalk). Stalk lodging resistance, an indicator of the stalk ability to resist lodging, is a complex trait and determined by several structural, geometric, and material properties of stalks, collectively referred to as intermediate phenotypes, whose identity and genetic framework are poorly understood. Therefore, progress in resolving the genetic architecture of stalk lodging resistance was impeded by a lack of standardized phenotyping methodologies and a poor …

High-Throughput Phenotyping Of Early Generation Small Grains Breeding Lines To Indirectly Select For Grain Yield, Dalton Jones

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In small grains breeding programs, breeders aim to develop better varieties by selecting for important traits like grain yield. However, it takes many years before yield can be measured because several generations of selection are required to fix lines and increase sufficient seed for yield measurements. This process can be slow and expensive

High-throughput phenotyping (HTP) is a modern approach that can increase breeding efficiency by leveraging technology to quickly measure secondary traits which can be used to indirectly select for important traits in crop plants. For example, researchers can use cameras on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, i.e., drones) to …

Seeding Rate, Planting Date, And Herbicides For Dormant Seeded Safflower In Utah, Rodney Daniel Nelson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Dryland crop production in the Intermountain West is largely limited by the amount of precipitation received. Increasing dryland safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) production yields in a semi-arid climate is possible with a dormant planting but is not well understood. A two-year (2020-22) project was designed to gain an understanding of the effects of variety, seeding rate, and planting date, on dormant seeded safflower. Chemical weed control options for safflower were also evaluated. One study, conducted at three Utah State University research farms near Blue Creek, Clarkston, and Kaysville, UT, evaluated four varieties, S-208, S-333, 7325 and Hybrid-446, seeded at …

Novel Horticultural Approaches For Reduced Gravity And Controlled Environment Agriculture, Sarah Elizabeth Schreck

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 achieved the first successful moon landing, marking a significant milestone in human space exploration. This historic moment effectively ended the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union, and since then, countries around the world have continued to advance their space programs. While the space race has evolved, the next major challenge lies in sending humans to Mars—a journey that could take 6 to 9 months each way, presenting numerous challenges, including the critical issue of nutritional sustainment for the crew.

This thesis addresses key aspects of a broader effort to support …

Screening Of A Diversity Of Legumes And Non-Legumes Forb Species At Five Strategic Locations Across Utah For The Development Of Smart Foodscapes, Surbhi Verma

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Grass-dominated rangelands in the Western United States often lack sufficient protein for pregnant cows after grasses mature in mid- summer, leading ranchers to rely on expensive feed supplements such as protein cubes or alfalfa hay. The goal of this study was to screen 27 perennial legume and forb species with the potential to remain green into late summer and provide sufficient protein to supplement cows on grass-dominated rangeland. Three experiments were carried out to understand germination of species, plant establishment and persistence at five Utah locations, and agronomic characteristics. The seed of five hard-to-germinate species were studied for the ability …

Optimizing Nutrient Recycling To Achieve Zero–Discharge Management For Controlled Environment Agriculture, Noah James Langenfeld

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) allows for human control of one or more environmental factors affecting crop production. Optimizing nutrient management in such systems allows for translation and predictions of sustainable management strategies in the field. These systems will be used to supply fresh food as public and private space agencies are planning to send humans to the Moon and Mars in the near future. Food resupply becomes increasingly difficult as the distance from Earth increases. Plants can be grown off-Earth as a food source, but their growth must be carefully managed to ensure long-term sustainability. I describe a model used …

Effects Of Plant Biostimulants On Onion Growth And Production Under Greenhouse And Field Conditions, Prakriti Nepal

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The escalating impact of climate change on agricultural production underscores the need to investigate sustainable crop enhancement methods. This research explores the use of plant biostimulants to grow onion (Allium cepa L.) under varying environmental conditions. In the initial germination and greenhouse screening, seven biostimulants were tested on ‘Vaquero’ onion seeds: three bacterial products (Continuum, Spectrum DS, and Tribus Original), two mycorrhizal products (Mighty Mycorrhizae and Myco Apply), one seaweed extract product (Seaweed), and one product containing humic acid (Huma Pro 16). Mighty Mycorrhizae, Continuum, and Myco Apply supported faster germination, while seeds treated with Spectrum and Seaweed took …

Initial Impacts Of Different Fertilizers On Improved East Texas Equine Pastures, Carolina De Leon, Brian Oswald, Leland Thompson, Candis Scallan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

In Texas, approximately 1.6 million acres support an equine population exceeding 748,000 horses. This study assessed the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizer treatments on improved Bermudagrass (BG) and other vegetation (OTH) in overgrazed equine pastures at the Stephen F. Austin State University Equine Center. Treatments included equine manure (H), broiler poultry litter (P), and a commercial 13-13-13 fertilizer (C), with application rates based on pasture requirements.

Initial vegetation cover was evaluated using the Daubenmire cover class method in September 2024, followed by a 60-day undisturbed growing period. Final biomass (g/2ft² converted to lbs/ac) and percent cover measurements were …

Della Protein And Cbl-Cipk Signaling Pathway As Candidates For Genetic Engineering, Nathan F. Surles

ATU Scholars Symposium

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Gibberellins On Dwarf Millet Growth, Rylee Deckard, Reed Morrison, Chase Christopher, Amy Brice, Sanduni Galbokka Hewa, Malina Roberson, Matthew Palmer

2025 Student Academic Showcase

Dwarf and semidwarf variants of agricultural plants are used to decrease lodging without decreasing crop yield. Some dwarf genotypes lack the ability to produce the growth hormone gibberellin, and others lack complete receptor pathways. Exogenous gibberellic acid (GA) was applied to four dwarf millet genotypes over the course of six weeks to determine what pathway for dwarfism each dwarf genotype was. Statistical analysis was done to analyze the relationship between GA applications and increased plant growth. It was found that all genotypes had some response to the treatment, though some were more extreme than others. Additionally, the treatment group had …

Trenching And Compost Sustain Grain Yield Increases Over Nine Years On Deep Sands But At A Cost, David J.M. Hall, Tom J. Edwards

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

Context. Crops grown on deep sands on the south coast of WA are limited by soil physical and chemical properties including compaction and poor nutrition. Aims. Crops grown on deep sands on the south coast of Western Australia are limited by soil physical and chemical properties including compaction and poor nutrition. Our aim was to determine what effects deep-placed organic amendments have on soil properties and crop production in a deep sand and whether such amendments are profitable. Methods. A long-term field trial was conducted over nine years (2015–2023) to investigate soil amendments including lime (0 and …

The Effect Of Soil Conditioner And Growth Booster On The Agronomic Characters And Number Of Nodules Of Black Soybean, Tien Turmuktini, I Putu Rahmat Santoso, Lia Amalia, Nunung Sondari, Elly Roosma Ria, Yenny Muliani, Endang Kantikowati, Tualar Simarmata

Jurnal Kultivasi

Soil Conditioner & Growth Booster (SCGB) is a potion that was made to be used as a soil conditioner and plant growth promoter. SCGB is made from organic matter, biological fertilizers, soil ameliorants, and microelements. This research aims to determine the best dosage of SCGB on the agronomic characters, effective nodules, and black soybean variety ‘Detam-1’ yield. This research was conducted in the experimental field of the Faculty of Agriculture, Winaya Mukti University, Sumedang, Indonesia. This experiment used a simple randomized block design (RBD) with six treatments (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 kg/ha) and repeated 4 times. The observation …

Forage Crop Improvement Through Biotechnology, S S. Croughan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is a perennial forage grass grown on over 10 million ha worldwide. In the southern United States, it is used extensively for grazing and the production of hay. It is a well adapted grass, but improvements in traits such as forage quality and pest resistance are needed. Much vari­ation in the nutritional value exists between genotypes. Tissue culture offers a method for the production of improved germ­plasm. Most plants regenerated from callus cultures will vary from the original variety from which they were derived. This phenomenon is referred to as somaclonal variation and can be …

Apomixis And Sexuality In Brachiaria Decumbens Stapf., C B. Do Valle, Y H. Savidan, L Jank

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Brachiaria decumbens Stapf is a perennial tropical forage grass, native to east African savannas. It was introduced to Brazil in the 1960's and is now widely cultivated over 30 million hectares in Central Brazil alone. The two commercial varieties are apomictic tetraploids (2n = 4x = 36), producing uniform progeny, and were selected for their high dry matter production and persistence on poor acid soils. They lack, however, resist­ance to spittlebugs (Deois spp., Zulia spp., Aeneolania spp.) and produce forage of low nutritive value, especially during the dry winter months. The absence of natural variability associated to apomictic reproduction has …

Use Of New Methods For Grass And Legume Breeding In Western Region Of The Soviet Union, R Dapkus

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The climatic conditions of the Western region of the Soviet Union are favourable for grassland production which provides the major part of forage for livestock nutrition. In raising grassland productivity, new varieties play an important role. Adapted varieties with high yield potential must be used. For developing such varieties, the Fodder Crops Breeding Centre fbr the Western region of the Soviet Union was estab­lished at the Lituanian Agricultural Research Institute in 1972 on the basis of experience since 1922, when selection of herbage species was initiated there. During the past twenty years, breed­ing work has progressed rapidly. At present, breeding …

Overall Quality And Quantity Evaluations Of Native Ecotypes Of Crested Wheatgrasses Of Iran, B Peymani-Fard

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn (crested wheatgrass) is indigenous to central Asia including parts of the USSR, China, Afghanistan, Turkey and Iran (Bore, 1970). It is a perennial tufted grass which often grows naturally on stony slopes and calcareous soils. In very hot dry periods it tends to remain dor­mant but renews its growth as soon as its moisture supply returns to normal. It also survives the coldest temperature encountered in its area of adaptation (Rogler, 1960). The toler­ance of Agropyron cristatum to heavy spring grazing results from early root activity, early accumulation of leaf tissue and significant accumulation of carbohydrates …

The Potential Of Lolium Multiflorum X Festuca Gigantea Hybrids, M O. Humphreys, H Thomas, B F. Tyler

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The potential for combining traits from broadly adapted Festuca with more highly specialised Lolium has been investi­gated for many years especially with regard to cytological behaviour (Breese et al., 1981). In the USA, efforts to increase the nutritive value of tall fescue through hybrids with ryegrasses succeeded in producing the variety Kenhy (Buckner et al., 1977). So far, Lolium/Fescue hybrids have not been able to compete commercially with more productive ryegrasses in intensive UK farming systems (Breese and Lewis, 1984). How­ever, with recent economic changes in European agriculture there is a need for more efficient, lower input grassland …

Comparative Study Of Some Varieties Of Cowpea I- Productivity And Nutritive Analysis, K M. Ghobrial, M A. Gabra

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Egypt, the serious problem of feed shortage, especially of green summer fodder suppresses the improvement of animal production. Therefore, dependence on improving local food and food resources for both animals and humans becomes a «must» for a right policy. The animal feeding system is depen­ding on the cultivation of berseem (Trifolium alexandrium L.). It produces annually around 4.81 million tons starch value/year and could cover the requirements of animals with surplus of 0.92 million tons starch value. However, in summer period, there will be at least a deficiency of 1.50 million tons starch value and most animals are …

Ontribution A L’Etude Des Especes Spontanees Du Genre Medicago L. En Algerie. Analyses Chimiques Du Fourrage Au Stade Vegetatif, Ratiba Goumiri, A Abdelguerfi, F H. Longo-Hammouda, S Oubchur

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

En Algerie, l'alimentation constitue le principal facteur limi­tant la production animale; son deficit en unites fourrageres (UF) est evalue a 3 milliards (Moskal, 1983). Elle est, outre son deficit, souvent de tres mau��aise qualite. La connaissance de la valeur alimentaire des fourrages est indispensable pour equilibrer au mieux !es rations, etablir des plants de rationnement adaptes aux besoins et valoriser le potentiel genetique du troupeau (Codron, 1986). Dans ce cadre et afin de caracteriser le materiel vegetal local, nous avons realise quelques analyses classiques sur des legumi­neuses du genre Medicago. Les especes de ce genre sont, en effet, appelees …

Introduction And Evaluation Of Tropical Forages In The Savannas Of Colombia, E A. Pizarro, L H. Franco, A Ramirez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The well-drained isohyperthermic savannas occupy an area of 98 million hectares, and are distributed in Colombia, Venezuela, northern Brazil, and Guyana. This extensive region of tropical America is characterized by a total wet season potential evapotranspiration of 901 to 1060 mn, an average monthly temperature in the wet season above 23.5 °C, and a wet season of six to eight months. The soils are Oxisols of low fertility and the predominant production system is extensive cattle ranching on native pastures of low nutritive value (Coch­rane et al., 1985). The Tropical Pastures Program of CIAT began a series of regional trials …